The Cottingley Fairies: Analysis of a Famous Hoax

A famous set of black and white photographs show two young girls in a forested glen, posing with what appear to be some winged fairies. For most of a century, the Cottingley Fairies fooled some people who believed in them wholeheartedly, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; while at the same time leaving others smiling politely at the girls' obvious prank photos. How can a hoax be both obvious and persuasive to so many at once? Support the show and subscribe to the audio podcast at https://skeptoid.com/, a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit.

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